POLICE have welcomed the 15-month jail sentence handed down to fantasist David Brown for his ‘disgusting’ messages to the family of Dylan Price.

Brown, 61 and of Bishop’s Castle, was jailed at Shrewsbury Crown Court – sitting at Telford Justice Centre – on Thursday, July 11 for conveying false messages.

The court heard that he sent Facebook messages as ‘John Thomas’ to Louise and Steve Bristow, mother and step-father of Dylan, claiming to know who his killer was and then claimed he was driving the car that collided with him.

READ MORE: 'Disgusting' man jailed for targeting family of Dylan Price with 'pack of lies'

Judge Laura Hobson told him his ‘pack of lies’ had caused Mr and Mrs Bristow ‘great pain’ and now Detective Inspector Jo Delahay, of West Mercia Police, added her voice of approval to his prison sentence.

She said: “This has caused considerable and unnecessary stress to Dylan’s family during their time of grief.

David BrownDavid Brown (Image: West Mercia Police.)

“I welcome the sentence that has been handed to Brown today by magistrates.

“Claiming to be involved in someone’s death when you were not only wastes police time and could hinder the investigation, but to then contact a grieving family with these claims is unacceptable.

“I would like to reassure the public that we thoroughly looked in to Brown’s claims and after investigating them, we are satisfied he was not involved.”

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Dylan, 17, died after being hit by a vehicle in Bishop’s Castle in the early hours of September 19, 2021 – his killer has never been caught.

Brown originally pleaded guilty in November 2022 before a bid to vacate his plea in May 2024 at Chester Crown Court, which was dismissed by a judge.

He will serve half on licence.